Holiday in Bergamo

About Bergamo

Bergamo is a city of two faces: The medieval Città Alta (Upper Town) sits atop a hill, surrounded by 16th-century Venetian fortress walls (UNESCO World Heritage), while the Città Bassa (Lower Town) serves as the economic center with elegant boulevards and the Sentierone. The historic funicular has connected both worlds since 1887. The Piazza Vecchia in the Upper Town is considered one of the most beautiful squares in Italy: The Palazzo della Ragione with its sundial, the Campanone (whose bell still rings 100 times in the evening), and the Cappella Colleoni with its colorful Renaissance façade create a perfect ensemble. The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore impresses with tapestries and magnificent inlays. Bergamo is also the city of composer Gaetano Donizetti — his birthplace and the theater dedicated to him keep the memory alive. The city shines culinarily with Casoncelli (stuffed pasta with butter and sage), Polenta Taragna with Taleggio cheese, and Stracciatella soup, which was invented here. The Venetian walls offer a three-kilometer walking path with panoramic views of the Po Valley and, on clear days, as far as the Milan Cathedral. Bergamo-Orio al Serio is the second most important airport in Lombardy — many travelers discover the city as a surprise during a Ryanair layover.